Durham Coast National Nature Reserve

Recommended by

Overview

The Durham Coast NNR is made up of five separate areas of land on the northeast coast of County Durham. The reserve is noted for its striking Magnesian limestone geological features and lime-rich grassland, home to numerous wildflowers and butterflies. The area also supports many birds, most notably an important breeding population of little terns. This delightful chattering seabird is the UK’s smallest tern. It arrives from West Africa in May to noisily nest on the sands at Crimdon. The reserve is a wonderfully varied coastline of shallow bays and headlands with yellow limestone cliffs up to 30 metres high. The coastal slopes and grasslands are home to a fabulous display of rare wildflowers, butterflies and other insects. In contrast, the wooded coastal denes are a totally different landscape of tangled ancient trees that support roe deer and many species of woodland birds in their mysterious depths.

Location

Blackhall

About the area

County Durham reaches halfway across England, from the North Pennines in the west, to the sea in the east. Much of it is very sparsely inhabited, and is naturally beautiful; a mix of rolling hills, monumental valleys, lush farmland and unforgiving moors.